(NADS) - Over the course of her four-year photography career, the fourth-grader living in Shanghai has captured images of more than a dozen celebrities, including some of Asia's most famous and influential figures.
According to CNN, Zou Shengyu, although only 9 years old, has become a famous photographer on Chinese social networks and has had the opportunity to work and collaborate with famous stars such as 'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa, Ouyang Nana, Zhou Xun...
The 9-year-old photographer who took a portrait of actor Jason Momoa, which is very popular on Chinese social media, is Zou Shengyu (professional alias Shengsheng).
Sharing with CNN, Shengsheng emphasized: "I was very nervous because I had to speak in English. Momoa is quite big so I asked him to do more complicated movements and gestures."
In a behind-the-scenes video posted on social media, 9-year-old Zou Shengyu can be seen taking a portrait of "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa. Zou Shengyu showed her courage and was not fazed by Momoa's tall stature, even though she is only nearly 1.4 meters tall, she still enthusiastically gave the actor the most detailed posing instructions. She also asked Momoa to pose in many different positions.
According to CNN, Zou Shengyu is young but she has a very serious and professional working style. Working with famous names, but Sheng Sheng does not show any shyness or nervousness but is very confident in showing her ability. She even suggests ways to pose or adjust the pose of the models. She makes many people admire her because she works in an environment full of beautiful boys and girls, and gets to interact with many famous people.
Shengsheng has taken portraits of actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, tennis legend Li Na and rapper Zhang Yixing, among others. The feat has earned her more than 10 million likes and about 500,000 followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Her father, photographer Zou Yupeng, also regularly posts about his daughter’s work to his millions of followers.
Zou Yupeng's father was the one who ignited his daughter's passion for photography. "In 2019, during a trip to Japan, I bought a camera for her to play with. Shengsheng was only five years old at the time," said Zou Yupeng. The father began encouraging his daughter to take photos on the streets when he saw her ability to communicate with strangers very well.
Shengsheng started out by approaching strangers and asking if she could take their photos. Then one day, when she was five years old, Shengsheng said she noticed a beautiful young woman in a clothing store in Shanghai. Little did the young photographer know that she was about to take a portrait of the famous Taiwanese actress and cellist, Nana Ouyang.
"Nana Ouyang was very gentle and kind. She even knelt down to be the same height as me. I didn't know who she was at the time, but I knew I wanted to be like her in the future," Shengsheng excitedly told CNN. The chance encounter went viral on Chinese social media. Shengsheng received invitations from movie advertisers, mobile phone companies, and shampoo brands asking her to take photos of other A-list stars.
"The more I took photos on the streets, the more people recognized me. This gave me more opportunities to photograph famous people," said the 9-year-old photographer.
Unsurprisingly, some social media users have questioned how a nine-year-old could be photographing some of Asia’s biggest stars. Dismissing many of the rumors, Shengsheng’s father has insisted that her clients have no help or connections from the family.
"Although Shengsheng is just a 9-year-old child with skills that still need to improve, artists want to contact him because through Shengsheng's lens, people look a little different from regular photoshoots with professional photographers. In Shengsheng's photos, you will see the subjects are softer and gentler, regardless of whether they are celebrities or not," Shengsheng's father explained.
Other online skeptics have also questioned whether Shengsheng used filters or went through any complex post-production processes. However, Shengsheng said her father only helped with minor edits, such as removing hair or adjusting color tones. She also insisted that she never used filters.
Last year, Shengsheng had a memorable photo shoot with Hong Kong film legend Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who was promoting his new blockbuster "The Goldfinger". The 9-year-old said that at first she thought Tony Leung was quite cold and quiet. But he turned out to be very warm and cute. Tony Leung always puts a smile on my face."
Of the entire shoot, Shengsheng liked the photo of Tony Leung Chiu-wai leaning against the wall, with a ray of sunlight shining across his face the most. Shengsheng said this was the best composition for portrait photography.
“When I see a circle or triangle, I try to use it as a frame for my subject,” the young photographer added. “It’s important to keep in mind what they’re wearing. You can’t ask someone to bend over if they’re wearing an evening gown.”
The young photographer also hopes to convey emotions through her photos. She explains: "I want viewers to feel like they were there when the photos were taken. I hope my work touches other people's emotions."
Unlike many of her contemporaries, Shengsheng typically shoots with analog film cameras. She says she prefers their simple design and lightness compared to the digital single-lens reflex cameras, or DSLRs, used by most professional photographers today.
"Although film photos cannot be developed immediately, I prefer the warm and gentle tones that film cameras produce. Processing photos from film cameras is a very interesting process, like opening a mystery box, you never know what you will get," Shengsheng excitedly shared.
In the past year alone, Shengsheng has taken more than 15,000 photos of many famous people. She is looking forward to capturing singer-songwriter Song Yuqi next.
The young photographer wants to one day become a full-time portrait photographer. However, when asked about his future career plans, Shengsheng said: "We are not in the future yet, so it is very possible that by then, my taste will have changed."
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